LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After a Louisville jury found him guilty on three counts of murder, Brice Rhodes is awaiting to learn how much time he will spend in jail. He could serve anywhere from 20 years to life in prison without parole.
Rhodes was convicted of stabbing and then burning the bodies of teenage brothers, 14-year-old Larry Ordway and 16-year-old Maurice Gordon after they allegedly witnessed him shoot and kill Christopher Jones, 40, in 2016.
On Tuesday, the court heard testimony from the victims' families and, for the first time, Rhodes' stepmother.
Ordway and Gordon's grandmother, Deborah Wren, said her life changed forever seven years and seven months ago.
"I can't even begin to tell you how hard this has been," she said. "Nothing is the same. Nothing."
Wren fought back tears each day of the trial. This was her second time speaking on the stand, but Tuesday, she talked about the memories she shared with her grandsons.
"Go to baseball games, birthday parties, Christmas...everything," Wren said.
Jones' brother, Shawn Jones, also spoke to the court prior to sentencing. He said his brother was "a good man."
"He didn't deserve for his life to be taken," Jones said. "For him to grow with his sons and his daughter, or get to know his granddaughter. He didn't get to have that."
While the jury convicted Rhodes in the triple homicide Monday night, prosecutors said Rhodes has a long history of crime, dating back to 2009. He has been charged with domestic violence, armed robbery, assault and violating parole.
However, defense attorneys stressed Rhodes shouldn't be defined by his actions.
"No matter what conclusion you reached about Brice as a person because of these charges," Attorney Tom Griffiths said. "Brice is a human being and more importantly, Brice is a person who's had a life that's gotten him to this point."
Griffiths said Rhodes had a tough upbringing filled with abuse and trauma. He also struggles with an intellectual disability, which his stepmother spoke to.
"The processing of information, the retention of information, just some cognitive things," Anna James, Rhodes' stepmother, said. Unlike Rhodes' brother, who is a college professor, James said Rhodes was never evaluated. She said she wanted to get him help, but his biological mother refused.
"That created friction," she said. "Tension between Shawna and I and she tried to come and get Brice."
But alongside speaking on tough times, James also shared good memories, which brought Rhodes to smile for the first time.
"We have always been connected. We are still connected," James said. "I love Brice forever."
The defense is expected to call more witnesses for testimony ahead of sentencing on Wednesday.
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.